Workpiece referencing system for and method of referencing workpieces supported by a workpiece carrier

ABSTRACT

A workpiece referencing system and method, the system having a workpiece support assembly for supporting a plurality of workpieces, wherein the support assembly includes a support platform and a plurality of support members which are disposed to the support platform, each support member being configured to support an individual workpiece; and a workpiece referencing assembly for referencing the workpieces, as supported by the support assembly, to predetermined positions; wherein the support members each includes a body which includes a support surface which supports a workpiece and a resilient coupling which resiliently couples at least an upper part of the body relative to the support platform, such that the at least part of the body is displaceable relative to the support platform from a first, unbiased position to a second, biased reference position by operation of the referencing assembly, and, when released, the at least part of the body returns to the first, unbiased position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 National Phase conversionof PCT/EP2014/057076, filed Apr. 8, 2014, which claims benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/809,558, filed Apr. 8, 2013, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The PCTInternational Application was published in the English language.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a workpiece referencing system for anda method of referencing a plurality of singulated workpieces, such aselectronic substrates, supported in a workpiece carrier, typically foruse in a screen printing machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention provides a workpiece supportassembly for supporting a plurality of singulated workpieces, whereinthe support assembly comprises a plurality of support members which eachsupport a workpiece, wherein the support members each comprise a bodywhich includes a support surface which supports a workpiece and aresilient coupling which resiliently couples at least a part of the bodywhich includes the support surface, such that the at least part of thebody is displaceable at least in a horizontal orient from a first,unbiased position to a second, biased reference position, and, whenreleased, the at least part of the body returns to the first, unbiasedposition, thereby in effect being self-centering.

In one embodiment the workpieces are transported in singulated fashionin individual carrier units of a workpiece carrier, and the supportmembers are configured to receive the workpieces from and return theworkpieces to the carrier units of the workpiece carrier.

In one embodiment the support members are supported by a supportplatform which comprises a body which has upper and lower surfaces andincludes a plurality of bores which each receive a respective supportmember.

In one embodiment the body of each support member includes a stem whichextends into the respective bore in the support platform.

In one embodiment the stem is slideable within the bore to allow fordisplacement of the at least part of the body of the support member in avertical orient.

In one embodiment the stem extends from the at least part of the bodythrough the respective bore in the support platform, whereby a vacuum orreduced pressure source is applied to the support surface, such as tofix a supported workpiece at a defined position thereon.

In one embodiment the vacuum or reduced pressure maintains the workpieceflat, where the workpiece is warped or flexible.

In one embodiment the stems each define a fluid channel which extendsbetween the respective at least part of the body and a lower surface ofthe support platform which is commonly fluidly connected by a manifold.

In one embodiment the support platform further comprises a lockingmember which is actuatable to lock the bodies of the support members ata referenced vertical or Z-axis position.

In one embodiment the locking member includes a plurality of apertureswhich are arranged in correspondence with the plurality of bores in thesupport platform, and is displaceable between a first, unlockedposition, in which the at least parts of the bodies of the supportmembers are movable vertically relative to the body of the supportplatform, such as to allow for adjustment of the vertical or Z-axispositions of the support members, and a second, locked position in whichthe locking member engages the support members and locks the vertical orZ-axis positions of the support members.

In one embodiment the locking member is biased to the first, unlockedposition, such that, when the locking member is released, the lockingmember adopts the first, unlocked position.

In one embodiment the support members each further comprise a base towhich the at least part of the body of the support member is movablycoupled in a vertical orient, and a biasing element which acts to biasthe at least part of the body of the support member from the base of thesupport member, such as to allow for movement of the at least part ofthe body of the support member relative to the base of the supportmember from a first, rest position on application of a bias to the bodyof the support member and provide for the body of the support member tobe returned to the first, rest position on release of the bias asapplied against the biasing element.

In one embodiment the base of the support member is attached to thesupport platform.

In one embodiment the body of the support member comprises a lower bodypart and an upper body part which includes the support surface and ismovably coupled to the lower body part, such that the upper body part isdisplaceable relative to the lower body part.

In one embodiment the upper body part has a head which includes thesupport surface for supporting a workpiece.

In one embodiment the head is replaceable.

In one embodiment the upper body part is replaceable.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling couples the upper body part tothe lower body part.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling comprises an elastomeric orrubber coupling which is deflectable.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling is formed of a low durometermaterial or a foam material, optionally in the form of a disk or sleeve.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling comprises one or more springelements.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling comprises one or morehelicoidal or leaf springs.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling comprises one or more resilientelements.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling comprises a single resilientelement.

In another embodiment the resilient coupling comprises a plurality ofresilient elements.

In one embodiment the resilient elements comprise elastomeric or rubberelements.

In one embodiment the support assembly comprises an integral supportmodule which includes the support members and is removable from aprocessing machine, such as a screen printing machine, as a singleunitary assembly.

In one embodiment the support assembly is re-configurable, such that thesupport members can be arranged in any desired configuration.

The present invention also extends to a workpiece referencing systemincorporating the above-described workpiece support assembly.

In another aspect the present invention provides a workpiece referencingsystem, comprising: the above-described workpiece support assembly; anda workpiece referencing assembly for referencing workpieces, assupported by the support assembly, to predetermined positions.

In one embodiment the referencing assembly comprises a horizontalreferencer for referencing the workpieces to predetermined positions ina horizontal orient.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencer comprises a horizontalreferencing unit which comprises at least one horizontal referencingmember which includes a plurality of referencing surfaces which arearranged in correspondence to the support members such as to engage theworkpieces as supported by the respective support members when the atleast one horizontal referencing member is moved in a horizontal orient.

In one embodiment the referencing surfaces each comprise at least oneelongate edge or discrete contact point.

In one embodiment the referencing surfaces each comprise a plurality ofelongate edges or discrete contact points.

In one embodiment the contact point or points comprise resilientelements.

In one embodiment the contact point or points comprise elastomeric orrubber elements.

In another embodiment the contact point or points comprise springelements.

In one embodiment the contact point or points comprise helicoidal orleaf springs.

In one embodiment the at least one horizontal referencing membercomprises a plate element which includes a plurality of apertures whicheach define at least one referencing surface.

In one embodiment the at least one horizontal referencing member ismoved along an axis which is inclined to at least one edge of theworkpieces.

In one embodiment the workpieces have orthogonal edges, and the at leastone horizontal referencing member is moved in a direction intermediatethe two orthogonal edges, optionally from about 35 degrees to about 55degrees thereto.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencing unit comprises first andsecond horizontal referencing members which each include a plurality ofreferencing surfaces which are arranged in correspondence to the supportmembers, and the horizontal referencing members are movable in differentdirections, such as each to engage the workpieces as supported by therespective support members when the horizontal referencing members aremoved in a horizontal orient.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencing members are moved insubstantially opposite directions.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencing members each comprise aplate element which includes a plurality of apertures which each defineat least one referencing surface.

In one embodiment one of the horizontal referencing members includesapertures of fixed shape which are oversized relative to the size of theworkpieces, at least one edge of which includes a first referencingsurface, and the other of the horizontal referencing members includescounterpart apertures, at least one edge of which includes a projectionwhich extends into the respective apertures in the one horizontalreferencing member and provides a second referencing surface, wherebymovement of the first and second horizontal referencing members acts toengage the workpieces by the first and second referencing surfaces andposition the workpieces in predetermined referencing positions.

In one embodiment the referencing assembly comprises a verticalreferencer which is operative to reference the workpieces as supportedby the support members to a common height or vertical or Z-axisposition.

In one embodiment the vertical referencer comprises a verticalreferencing member which is in use disposed at a predetermined height orvertical or Z-axis position above the support assembly and acts toreference the workpieces as supported by the support members to a commonheight or vertical or Z-axis position.

In one embodiment the vertical referencing member comprises a plateelement.

In one embodiment the vertical referencing member has a planar lowersurface.

In one embodiment the system further comprises: a transport mechanismfor moving the vertical referencing member from a first, storageposition to a second position above the support assembly.

In one embodiment the transport mechanism comprises a support cradlewhich supports the vertical referencing member, a pivotable linkagewhich is coupled to the support cradle and acts to translate the supportcradle between the first and second positions, and an actuator which isoperable to move the support cradle between the first and secondpositions.

In one embodiment the support cradle comprises first and second armswhich engage lateral edges of the vertical referencing member and a bodywhich supports the arms in fixed relation, optionally the arms arecantilevered from the body.

In one embodiment the pivotable linkage comprises a plurality of links.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a workpiecereferencing assembly for referencing workpieces, as supported by supportmembers of a support assembly, to predetermined positions, wherein thereferencing assembly comprises a horizontal referencer for referencingthe workpieces to predetermined positions in a horizontal orient.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencer comprises a horizontalreferencing unit which comprises at least one horizontal referencingmember which includes a plurality of referencing surfaces which arearranged in correspondence to the support members such as to engage theworkpieces as supported by the respective support members when the atleast one horizontal referencing member is moved in a horizontal orient.

In one embodiment the referencing surfaces each comprise at least oneelongate edge or discrete contact point.

In another embodiment the referencing surfaces each comprise a pluralityof elongate edges or discrete contact points.

In one embodiment the contact point or points comprise resilientelements.

In one embodiment the contact point or points comprise elastomeric orrubber elements.

In another embodiment the contact point or points comprise springelements.

In one embodiment the contact point or points comprise helicoidal orleaf springs.

In one embodiment the at least one horizontal referencing membercomprises a plate element which includes a plurality of apertures whicheach define at least one referencing surface.

In one embodiment the at least one horizontal referencing member ismoved along an axis which is inclined to at least one edge of theworkpieces.

In one embodiment the workpieces have orthogonal edges, and the at leastone horizontal referencing member is moved in a direction intermediatethe two orthogonal edges, optionally from about 35 degrees to about 55degrees thereto.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencing unit comprises first andsecond horizontal referencing members which each include a plurality ofreferencing surfaces which are arranged in correspondence to the supportmembers, and the horizontal referencing members are movable in differentdirections, such as to engage the workpieces as supported by therespective support members when the horizontal referencing members aremoved in a horizontal orient.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencing members are moved insubstantially opposite directions.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencing members each comprise aplate element which includes a plurality of apertures which each defineat least one referencing surface.

In one embodiment one of the horizontal referencing members includesapertures of fixed shape which are oversized relative to the size of theworkpieces, at least one edge of which includes a first referencingsurface, and the other of the horizontal referencing members includescounterpart apertures, at least one edge of which includes a projectionwhich extends into the respective apertures in the one horizontalreferencing member and provides a second referencing surface, wherebymovement of the first and second horizontal referencing members acts toengage the workpieces by the first and second referencing surfaces andposition the workpieces in predetermined referencing positions.

In one embodiment the referencing assembly comprises a verticalreferencer which is operative to reference the workpieces as supportedby the support members to a common height or vertical or Z-axisposition.

In one embodiment the vertical referencer comprises a verticalreferencing member which is in use disposed at a predetermined height orvertical or Z-axis position above the support assembly and acts toreference the workpieces as supported by the support members to a commonheight or vertical or Z-axis position.

In one embodiment the vertical referencing member comprises a plateelement.

In one embodiment the vertical referencing member has a planar lowersurface.

In one embodiment the assembly further comprises: a transport mechanismfor moving the vertical referencing member from a first, storageposition to a second position above the support assembly.

In one embodiment the transport mechanism comprises a support cradlewhich supports the vertical referencing member, a pivotable linkagewhich is coupled to the support cradle and acts to translate the supportcradle between the first and second positions, and an actuator which isoperable to move the support cradle between the first and secondpositions.

In one embodiment the support cradle comprises first and second armswhich engage lateral edges of the vertical referencing member and a bodywhich supports the arms in fixed relation, optionally the arms arecantilevered from the body.

In one embodiment the pivotable linkage comprises a plurality of links.

The present invention also extends to a workpiece referencing systemincorporating the above-described workpiece support assembly.

In one embodiment the workpieces each comprise a plurality of workpieceelements which are supported by a common carrier element.

In another embodiment the workpieces each comprise a single workpieceelement.

In a still further aspect the present invention provides a supportmember for supporting a workpiece, wherein the support member comprisesa support, a body which includes a support surface which supports aworkpiece and a resilient coupling which resiliently couples at least apart of the body relative to the support, such that the at least part ofthe body is displaceable relative to the support in at least ahorizontal orient from a first, unbiased position to a second, biasedreference position, and, when released, the at least part of the bodyreturns to the first, unbiased position, thereby in effectself-centering.

In one embodiment the body of the support member includes a stem whichextends therethrough from the at least part of the body.

In one embodiment the stem is slideable to allow for displacement of theat least part of the body of the support member in a vertical orient.

In one embodiment the stem extends to the support surface, whereby avacuum or reduced pressure source is applied to the support surface,such as to fix a supported workpiece at a defined position thereon.

In one embodiment the vacuum or reduced pressure maintains the workpieceflat, where the workpiece is warped or flexible.

In one embodiment the at least part of the body is displaceable in avertical orient, such as to allow for adjustment of the vertical orZ-axis position of the support member, and lockable at a referencedvertical or Z-axis position.

In one embodiment the support member further comprises a base to whichthe at least part of the body is movably coupled in the vertical orient,and a biasing element which acts to bias the at least part of the bodyfrom the base, such as to allow for movement of the at least part of thebody relative to the base from a first, rest position on application ofa bias to the body and provide for the body to be returned to the first,rest position on release of the bias as applied against the biasingelement.

In one embodiment the base of the support member is attached to asupport platform.

In one embodiment the body of the support member comprises a lower bodypart and an upper body part which includes the support surface and ismovably coupled to the lower body part, such that the upper body part isdisplaceable relative to the lower body part.

In one embodiment the upper body part has a head which includes thesupport surface for supporting a workpiece.

In one embodiment the head is replaceable.

In one embodiment the upper body part is replaceable.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling couples the upper body part tothe lower body part.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling comprises an elastomeric orrubber coupling which is deflectable.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling is formed of a low durometermaterial or a foam material, optionally in the form of a disk or sleeve.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling comprises one or more springelements.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling comprises one or morehelicoidal or leaf springs.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling comprises one or more resilientelements.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling comprises a single resilientelement.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling comprises a plurality ofresilient elements.

In one embodiment the resilient elements comprise elastomeric or rubberelements.

In a yet further aspect the present invention provides a method ofreferencing a plurality of singulated workpieces, the method comprisingthe steps of: providing a workpiece support assembly for supporting aplurality of workpieces, wherein the support assembly comprises aplurality of support members which are each configured to support aworkpiece, wherein the support members each comprise a support, a bodywhich includes a support surface which supports a workpiece and aresilient coupling which resiliently couples at least a part of the bodyrelative to the support, such that the at least part of the body isdisplaceable relative to the support from a first, unbiased position toa second, biased reference position, and, when released, the at leastpart of the body returns to the first, unbiased position; providingworkpieces to the support surfaces of the support members; referencingthe workpieces to predetermined positions in a horizontal orient bydisplacing the workpieces and the at least part of the body of each ofthe support members supporting the same in at least a horizontal orientfrom a first, unbiased position to a second, biased reference position,at which a processing operation, optionally a screen printing operation,is performed; releasing the at least part of the body of each of thesupport members, whereby the resilient couplings of the support membersreturn the at least part of the body of each of the support members tothe first, unbiased position; and removing the workpieces from thesupport surfaces of the support members.

In one embodiment the workpieces are transported in singulated fashionin individual carrier units of a workpiece carrier, and the supportmembers are configured to receive the workpieces from and return theworkpieces to the carrier units of the workpiece carrier.

In one embodiment the method further comprises the step of: applying avacuum or reduced pressure source to the support surface of each of thesupport members so as to fix a supported workpiece at a defined positionthereon.

In one embodiment the vacuum or reduced pressure maintains the workpieceflat, where the workpiece is warped or flexible.

In one embodiment the body of each support member includes a fluidchannel which extends from the support surface thereof to a manifold atwhich a vacuum or reduced pressure is commonly applied.

In one embodiment the support members are each movable in a verticalorient, and the method further comprises the steps of: referencing thesupport surface of each of the support members to a common height orvertical or Z-axis position; and locking the bodies of the supportmembers at the referenced height or vertical or Z-axis position.

In one embodiment the support members each further comprise a base towhich the at least part of the body of the support member is movablycoupled in a vertical orient, and a biasing element which acts to biasthe at least part of the body of the support member from the base of thesupport member, such as to allow for movement of the body of the supportmember relative to the base of the support member from a first, restposition on application of a bias to the body of the support member andprovide for the body of the support member to be returned to the first,rest position on release of the bias as applied against the biasingelement.

In one embodiment the base of the support member is attached to asupport platform.

In one embodiment the body of the support member comprises a lower bodypart and an upper body part which includes the support surface and ismovably coupled to the lower body part, such that the upper body part isdisplaceable relative to the lower body part.

In one embodiment the upper body part has a head which includes thesupport surface for supporting a workpiece.

In one embodiment the head is replaceable.

In one embodiment the upper body part is replaceable.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling couples the upper body part tothe lower body part.

In one embodiment the support assembly comprises an integral modulewhich includes the support members and is removable from a processingmachine, such as a screen printing machine, as a single unitaryassembly.

In one embodiment the support assembly is re-configurable, such that thesupport members can be arranged in any desired configuration.

In one embodiment the workpieces are referenced to predeterminedpositions in a horizontal orient by operation of a horizontalreferencer.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencer comprises a horizontalreferencing unit which comprises at least one horizontal referencingmember which includes a plurality of referencing surfaces which arearranged in correspondence to the support members, and the referencingstep comprises engaging the workpieces as supported by the respectivesupport members by moving the at least one horizontal referencing memberin a horizontal orient such that the referencing surfaces engage therespective workpieces and move the same to predetermined positions in ahorizontal orient.

In one embodiment the referencing surfaces each comprise at least oneelongate edge or discrete contact point.

In one embodiment the referencing surfaces each comprise a plurality ofelongate edges or discrete contact points.

In one embodiment the contact point or points comprise resilientelements.

In one embodiment the at least one horizontal referencing membercomprises a plate element which includes a plurality of apertures whicheach define at least one referencing surface.

In one embodiment the at least one horizontal referencing member ismoved along an axis which is inclined to at least one edge of theworkpieces.

In one embodiment the workpieces have orthogonal edges, and the at leastone horizontal referencing member is moved in a direction intermediatethe two orthogonal edges, optionally from about 35 degrees to about 55degrees thereto.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencing unit comprises first andsecond horizontal referencing members which each include a plurality ofreferencing surfaces which are arranged in correspondence to the supportmembers, and the horizontal referencing members are movable in differentdirections, and the referencing step comprises engaging the workpiecesas supported by the respective support members by moving the horizontalreferencing members in a horizontal orient, such that the referencingsurfaces thereof engage the respective workpieces and move the same topredetermined positions in a horizontal orient.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencing members are moved insubstantially opposite directions.

In one embodiment the horizontal referencing members each comprise aplate element which includes a plurality of apertures which each defineat least one referencing surface.

In one embodiment one of the horizontal referencing members includesapertures of fixed shape which are oversized relative to the size of theworkpieces, at least one edge of which includes a first referencingsurface, and the other of the horizontal referencing members includescounterpart apertures, at least one edge of which includes a projectionwhich extends into the respective apertures in the one horizontalreferencing member and provides a second referencing surface, wherebymovement of the first and second horizontal referencing members acts toengage the workpieces by the first and second referencing surfaces andposition the workpieces in predetermined referencing positions.

In one embodiment the method further comprises the step of: referencingthe workpieces to predetermined positions in a vertical orient bydisplacing the workpieces and the at least part of the body of each ofthe support members supporting the same in at least a vertical orient.

In one embodiment the workpieces are referenced to predeterminedpositions in a vertical orient by operation of a vertical referencer.

In one embodiment the vertical referencer comprises a verticalreferencing member which is disposed at a predetermined height orvertical or Z-axis position and acts to reference the workpieces assupported by the support members to a common height or vertical orZ-axis position, by movement of the support assembly in relation to thevertical referencing member, by movement of the vertical referencingmember in relation to the support assembly or by movement of both thesupport assembly and the vertical referencing member in relation to oneanother.

In one embodiment the vertical referencing member comprises a plateelement.

In one embodiment the step of referencing the workpieces topredetermined positions in a vertical orient comprises moving thevertical referencing member from a first, storage position to a secondposition above the support assembly, and raising the support assemblysuch that the workpieces engage a lower surface of the verticalreferencing member.

In one embodiment the vertical referencing member is supported by asupport cradle which is coupled to a pivotable linkage, and the step ofmoving the vertical referencing member comprises the step of translatingthe support cradle between the first and second positions.

In one embodiment the support cradle comprises first and second armswhich engage lateral edges of the vertical referencing member and a bodywhich supports the arms in fixed relation, optionally the arms arecantilevered from the body.

In one embodiment the pivotable linkage comprises a plurality of links.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedhereinbelow by way of example only with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a workpiece referencing systemin accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, withthe workpiece support assembly and the workpiece referencing assemblythereof omitted for ease of illustration;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the workpiece support assemblyof the workpiece referencing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a vertical sectional view (along section I-I) of theworkpiece support assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the workpiece referencingassembly of the workpiece support system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged perspective view (detail A) of theworkpiece referencing assembly of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6(a-j) illustrate the operative steps in use of the workpiecesupport system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The workpiece referencing system comprises a workpiece support assembly3 for individually supporting a plurality of workpieces W which aretransported in singulated fashion in a workpiece carrier 7, and aworkpiece referencing assembly 11 for referencing the workpieces W, assupported by the support assembly 3, each to predetermined positions.

In this embodiment the workpiece carrier 7 comprises a plurality ofcarrier units 15, which support individual workpieces W in spacedrelation. In this embodiment the carrier units 15 are arranged in aregular array, typically in an m×n array, here in a 3×7 array, but couldhave any arrangement. In this embodiment the workpiece carrier 7 isJEDEC style carrier or boat, but could have any other style, such as anAuer style.

The support assembly 3 comprises a base unit 17 and a support module 19which is disposed to the base unit 17. In this embodiment the supportmodule 19 is a removable, replaceable module, which allows for the useof different support modules 19 and thereby accommodates the use ofdifferent workpiece carriers 7 and workpieces W without requiringreplacement of the entire support assembly 3.

In this embodiment the base unit 17 includes a manifold cavity 20 in anupper surface thereof, to which a platform 21 of the support module 19is fluidly connected. As will be described in more detail hereinbelow,the manifold cavity 20 is fluidly connected to a vacuum or reducedpressure source 85. With this configuration, individual connections tosupport members 23 of the support module 19 are not required, and thesupport module 19 can be removed as an integral assembly.

The support module 19 comprises a support platform 21 and a plurality ofsupport members 23 which are disposed to the support platform 21, eachbeing configured to support an individual workpiece W.

In this embodiment the support members 23 are arranged in a regulararray, typically in an m×n array, here in a 3×7 array, which correspondsto the configuration of the carrier units 15 of the workpiece carrier 7,but could have any arrangement.

In this embodiment the support platform 21 comprises a platform body 25,here in the form of a plate, which has upper and lower surfaces 27, 29and includes a plurality of bores 31 which each receive a respectivesupport member 23 and are configured in accordance with the arrangementof carrier units 15 in the workpiece carrier 7.

In this embodiment the platform body 25 comprises an upper body element41 and a lower body element 43, which together define a cavity 45, whichextends laterally across the platform body 25 and receives a lockingmember 51, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

In this embodiment the support platform 21 further comprises a lockingmember 51, which is operative to lock the vertical or Z-axis height ofthe support members 23.

In this embodiment the locking member 51, here in the form of a plate,includes a plurality of apertures 53 which are arranged incorrespondence with the plurality of bores 31 in the platform body 25,and is actuatable between a first, unlocked or rest position, in whichthe support members 23 are movable vertically, such as to allowadjustment of the height of the support members 23, and a second, lockedposition in which the locking member 51 engages a part of the supportmembers 23, in this embodiment stems 77 of the support members 23, andlocks the vertical or Z-axis height of the support members 23.

In this embodiment the locking member 51 includes a plurality of contactelements 54, here in the form of resilient elements, such as a rubber orelastomeric pad, which are disposed at the respective apertures 53, suchas to provide a contact surface with the respective support member 23when the locking member 51 is in the locked position.

In this embodiment the support platform 21 further comprises a biasingelement 55, here a spring element, which acts to bias the locking member51 to the unlocked position when the locking member 51 is not actuated.With this configuration, the locking member 51 automatically adopts theunlocked position without requiring any separate actuation orintervention.

In this embodiment the support module 19 comprises an integral modulewhich is removable from a processing machine, such as a screen printingmachine, as a single unitary module.

In this embodiment the support module 19 is re-configurable, such thatthe support members 23 can be arranged in any desired configuration andadditionally or alternatively allows different support members 23 to befitted to the support platform 21.

The support members 23 each comprise a base 56 which is attached to thesupport platform 21, a body 57 which is movably coupled to the base 56,in this embodiment at least in the vertical or Z-axis orient, and abiasing element 59 which acts to bias the body 57 away from the base 56,and the support platform 21 on which the base 56 is mounted, in thisembodiment upwardly, such as to allow for depression of the body 57 froman unbiased or rest position and return the body 57 to the unbiasedposition on releasing the bias as applied to the body 57.

In this embodiment the body 57 comprises a first, lower body part 61 anda second, upper body part 63, at least part of which is movably coupledto the lower body part 61, here at least in a horizontal or X-Y planeand preferably allowing for rotation θ relative to the vertical orZ-axis.

In this embodiment the upper body part 63 includes a head 64 whichprovides a support surface 65 for supporting a workpiece W.

In this embodiment the body 57 further comprises a resilient coupling 75which resiliently couples the upper body part 63 to the lower body part61, such that the upper body part 63 is displaceable in a horizontalorient relative to the lower body part 61, and the support platform 21to which the lower body part 61 is coupled, from a first, unbiasedposition to a second, biased reference position by operation of thereferencing assembly 11, as will be described in more detailhereinbelow, and, when released, the upper body part 63 returns to thefirst, unbiased position.

In this embodiment movement of the upper body part 63 relative to thelower body part 61 is constrained such that the support member 23provides a stable support to the supported workpiece W.

With this configuration, the workpieces W are each individuallyreferenced to a reference position and each returns to their originalposition without any control input on releasing the workpieces W, thusallowing for the workpieces W to be engaged directly in the carrierunits 15 of the workpiece carrier 7 without any positional adjustment bysimply raising the workpiece carrier 7 in relation to the supportedworkpieces W, which can be done by raising the workpiece carrier 7 withthe support module 19 fixed, lowering the support module 19 with theworkpiece carrier 7 fixed or both raising the workpiece carrier 7 andlowering the support module 19.

In this embodiment the resilient coupling 75 comprises an elastomeric orrubber element, which is deflected on displacement of the upper bodypart 63.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling 75 could be formed of a lowdurometer material, such as a disk or sleeve.

In another embodiment the resilient coupling 75 could be formed of afoam material, such as a disk or sleeve.

In this embodiment the resilient coupling 75 comprises a plurality ofresilient coupling elements.

In another embodiment the resilient coupling 75 could comprise a singleresilient coupling element.

In one embodiment the resilient coupling 75 could comprise one or morespring elements, such as helicoidal or leaf springs.

In another embodiment the resilient coupling 75 could comprise one ormore elastomeric or rubber elements, such as elastic bands.

In other embodiments the resilient coupling could comprise combinationsof any of the above-described elements.

In this embodiment the body 57 includes a stem 77 which extends into therespective bore 31 in the support platform 21, and is slideable withinthe bore 31 to allow for displacement of the body 57 in the vertical orZ-axis orient.

In this embodiment the stem 77 extends from the upper body part 63through the respective bore 31 in the support platform 21, and defines afluid channel 81, which extends between the upper body part 63 and alower surface of the support platform 21, which is fluidly connected toa vacuum or reduced pressure source 85, whereby a vacuum or reducedpressure is applied to the support surface 65 of the head 64 of theupper body part 63, such as to fix a supported workpiece W at a definedposition on the upper body part 63, and also maintain the workpiece Wflat, where the workpiece W is warped or flexible.

In this embodiment, by applying a vacuum or reduced pressure source 85commonly to the manifold cavity 20, individual connections to each ofthe support members 23 are not required, and the support module 19 canbe removed as an integral module.

The referencing assembly 11 comprises a support platform 100, ahorizontal referencer 101 for referencing the workpieces W supported bythe carrier units 15 of the workpiece carrier 7 in a horizontal orientrelative to the support platform 100, and a vertical referencer 102 forreferencing the workpieces W supported by the carrier units 15 of theworkpiece carrier 7 in a vertical orient relative to the supportplatform 100.

The horizontal referencer 101 comprises a horizontal referencing unit103 which is supported by the support platform 100 over the upper bodyparts 63 of the support members 23, and an actuation mechanism 104 whichis operative to actuate the horizontal referencing unit 103 to referencethe workpieces W supported by the carrier units 15 of the workpiececarrier 7 in a horizontal or X-Y orient.

In this embodiment the horizontal referencing unit 103 comprises firstand second referencing members 111 a, b, here in the form of plates,which each include a plurality of counterpart apertures 113 a, b whichare arranged in correspondence with the support members 23 and areconfigured to receive the respective workpieces W as supported thereby.

In this embodiment the first and second referencing members 111 a, b aredisplaceable in opposite directions, such as to center the workpieces Win the respective apertures 113 a, b and reference the horizontal or X-Yorient of the workpieces W.

In this embodiment the first, upper referencing member 111 a includesapertures 113 a of fixed shape, here having a rectangular profile whichis oversized relative to the size of the workpieces W, at least one edgeof which, here two adjacent orthogonal edges, define aworkpiece-engagement surface, and the second, lower referencing member111 b includes counterpart apertures 113 b, at least one edge of which,here two adjacent orthogonal edges, include a projection 115 a, b whichextends into the respective apertures 113 a in the upper plate element111 a to an upper surface of the upper referencing member 111 a anddefines a workpiece-engagement surface.

With this configuration, the at least one, here adjacent, orthogonaledges, of the apertures 113 a in the upper referencing member 111 a andthe at least one, here first and second projections 115 a, b atadjacent, orthogonal edges at the apertures 113 b in the lowerreferencing member 111 b act to engage opposite edges of the respectiveworkpieces W and center the workpieces W at predetermined positions inthe horizontal orient, here both in terms of their X, Y position and interms of their rotation θ relative to the vertical or Z-axis.

In this embodiment the referencing members 111 a, b are moved along anaxis which is inclined to at least one edge of the workpieces W. In oneembodiment, where the workpieces W have orthogonal edges, thereferencing members 111 a, b are moved in a direction intermediate thetwo orthogonal edges, typically at 45 degrees thereto.

In this embodiment the workpieces W have a rectangular shape and theapertures 113 a, b define orthogonal edges against which the workpiecesW are engaged.

In an alternative embodiment the apertures 113 a, b could define pointcontacts, such that the workpieces W are contacted only at points alongthe edges thereof.

In another alternative embodiment the apertures 113 a, b could includeresilient contacts, such as spring contacts, such that the workpieces Ware contacted only at points along the edges thereof.

In this embodiment the support platform 100 comprises a support body 117which includes an aperture 119 through which the upper body parts 63 ofthe support members 23 are displaceable.

In this embodiment the actuation mechanism 104 comprises a plurality ofactuators 121 a-f, 122 a-f which are configured to displace the firstand second referencing members 111 a, b in a horizontal plane.

In this embodiment the actuation mechanism 104 comprises a plurality offirst actuators 121 a-f which engage the first referencing member 111 aand displace the same in a first direction H1 and a plurality of secondactuators 122 a-f which engage the second referencing member 111 b anddisplace the same in a second direction H2, which is opposite to thefirst direction H1.

The vertical referencer 102 comprises a vertical referencing member 125and a transport mechanism 127 for transporting the vertical referencingmember 125 from a first, inoperative or rest position to a second,operative position over the support members 23 of the support module 19.

In this embodiment the vertical referencing member 125 comprises aplate, here a relatively-heavy plate, against which the workpieces W assupported by the support members 23 are biased, which acts to referencethe supported workpieces W to a common height when the workpieces W areraised from the carrier units 15 in the workpiece carrier 7.

In this embodiment the vertical referencing member 125 has a planarlower surface, but in other embodiments the lower surface could beprofiled, such as by way of including recesses, in order to accommodatefeatures or components on the upper surfaces of the workpieces W.

In this embodiment the vertical referencing member 125 is locatedadjacent and below the support platform 100 when in the inoperative orrest position.

In this embodiment a lower surface of the vertical referencing member125 is located at a predetermined height relative to the supportplatform 100 when in the operative position. In one embodiment thevertical referencing member 125 is located on the upper surface of thehorizontal referencing unit 103 when in the operative position.

In use, when raising the support module 19, the support members 23 areraised until the supported workpieces W each engage the lower surface ofthe vertical referencing member 125. The workpieces W can engage atdifferent times depending upon the thicknesses of the workpieces W, andthis configuration also allows for some variation in the heights of thesupport members 23, meaning that the support members 23 do not need tobe calibrated to have the same height in the manner of existing supportsystems. As the support members 23 engage the lower surface of thevertical referencing member 125, the support platform 21 can be raisedfurther as the stems 77 are slideable through the respective bores 31 inthe platform body 25, and the support platform 21 can be raised untilthe upper surfaces of all of the workpieces W engage the lower surfaceof the vertical referencing member 125. When in this configuration, thelocking member 51 is actuated to lock the vertical or Z-axis height ofthe support members 23, such that the workpieces W are at a commonvertical or Z-axis position.

In one embodiment the vertical referencer 102 could be omitted. In oneembodiment the support members 23 are calibrated and the workpieces Whave a substantially uniform thickness,

In this embodiment the transport mechanism 127 comprises a supportcradle 128 which comprises first and second arms 131 which engagelateral edges of the vertical referencing member 125 and a body 133which supports the arms 131 in fixed relation, a pivotable coupling 135which couples the support cradle 128 relative to the support platform100 and acts to translate the support cradle 128 between the inoperativeand operative positions, and an actuator 137 which is operable to drivethe support cradle 128 between the inoperative and operative positions.

FIGS. 6(a-j) illustrate the operative steps in use of the workpiecesupport system of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 6(a), with the support module 19 of the supportassembly 3 in a lowered configuration relative to the horizontalreferencing unit 103, a workpiece carrier 7 is introduced beneath thehorizontal referencing unit 103.

The vertical referencer 102 is operated to move the vertical referencingmember 125 from the inoperative position to the operative position abovethe horizontal referencing unit 103, as illustrated in FIG. 6(b).

The vacuum pressure source 85 is then actuated to provide a vacuum atthe heads of the support members 23, and the support module 19 of thesupport assembly 3 is raised relative to the horizontal referencing unit103. As illustrated in FIG. 6(c), the heads 64 of the support members 23engage a lower surface of the workpieces W, which are held thereto bythe vacuum thereat, and lift the workpieces W from the carrier units 15of the workpiece carrier 7.

The support members 23 are raised until the supported workpieces W eachengage the lower surface of the vertical referencing member 125, asillustrated in FIG. 6(d), with the workpieces W engaging at differenttimes depending upon the thicknesses of the workpieces W. In thisconfiguration the workpieces W are located in the respective apertures113 a, b in the referencing members 111 a, b of the horizontalreferencing unit 103.

With the workpieces W referenced in the vertical position, lockingmember 51 of the support platform 21 is actuated to lock the supportmembers 23 at the vertical or Z-axis height, in this embodiment byengagement of the contact elements 54 with the stems 77 of the supportmembers 23, as illustrated in FIG. 6(e).

The vertical referencer 102 is operated to move the vertical referencingmember 125 from the operative position to the inoperative position awayfrom the horizontal referencing unit 103, as illustrated in FIG. 6(f).

As illustrated in FIG. 6(g), the actuators 121 a-f, 122 a-f of theactuation mechanism 104 are actuated to displace the first referencingmember 111 a in a first direction H1 and the second referencing member111 b in a second direction H2, being opposite to the first directionH1, which causes the adjacent, orthogonal edges of the apertures 113 ain the upper referencing member 111 a and the first and secondprojections 115 a, b at adjacent, orthogonal edges at the apertures 113b in the lower referencing member 111 b to engage opposite edges of therespective workpieces W and center the workpieces W at predeterminedpositions in the horizontal orient, here both in terms of their X, Yposition and in terms of their rotation θ relative to the vertical orZ-axis. This referencing of the workpieces W is made possible by theresilient couplings 75 between the lower and upper body parts 61, 63 ofthe support members 23 which allow the upper body part 63, and hence thehead 64 thereof which supports the workpiece W, to be displaced from afirst, unbiased position to a second, biased position.

In this horizontal referenced position, a process operation is performedon the workpieces W. Such operations include printing and pick-and-placeoperations, by way of example.

As illustrated in FIG. 6(h), the actuators 121 a-f, 122 a-f of theactuation mechanism 104 are actuated to displace the first referencingmember 111 a in the second direction H2 and the second referencingmember 111 b in the first direction H1, which causes the adjacent,orthogonal edges of the apertures 113 a in the upper referencing member111 a and the first and second projections 115 a, b at adjacent,orthogonal edges at the apertures 113 b in the lower referencing member111 b to dis-engage opposite edges of the respective workpieces W. Withthis action, the resilient couplings 75 between the lower and upper bodyparts 61, 63 of the support members 23 cause the upper body part 63, andhence the head 64 thereof which supports the workpiece W, to return fromthe biased position to the unbiased position without any intervention.

The vacuum pressure source 85 is then de-actuated to release the vacuumat the heads 64 of the support members 23, and the support module 19 ofthe support assembly 3 is lowered relative to the horizontal referencingunit 103.

As illustrated in FIG. 6(i), the heads 64 of the support members 23dis-engage a lower surface of the workpieces W as the workpieces W areseated in the carrier units 15 of the workpiece carrier 7.

The support module 19 of the support assembly 3 is returned to thelowered configuration relative to the horizontal referencing unit 103,which allows the workpiece carrier 7 to be transported from beneath thehorizontal referencing unit 103 and the process repeated.

Finally, it will be understood that the present invention has beendescribed in its preferred embodiments and can be modified in manydifferent ways without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

In one embodiment the workpieces W could comprise a plurality ofworkpiece elements which are supported by a common carrier element.

In one modification the horizontal referencing unit 103 could compriseonly a single referencing member 111 a which is displaced in ahorizontal plane and acts to engage all of the workpieces W to move thesame to predetermined reference positions in the horizontal or X-Yplane.

What is claimed is:
 1. A support member for supporting a workpiecethereon, wherein the support member comprises a support and a body whichincludes a support surface which provides stable support for theworkpiece thereon and a resilient coupling which resiliently couples atleast part of the body relative to the support, such that the at leastpart of the body is displaceable relative to the support in at least ahorizontal orient from a first, unbiased position to a second, biasedreference position, and, when released, the at least part of the bodyreturns to the first, unbiased position, wherein the body of the supportmember includes a stem which extends therethrough from the at least partof the body, and wherein the stem extends to the support surface,whereby a vacuum or reduced pressure source is applied to the supportsurface, such as to fix a supported workpiece at a defined positionthereon, wherein the at least part of the body is displaceable in thevertical orient, such as to allow adjustment of the vertical or Z-axisposition of the support member, and wherein the at least part of thebody is lockable at a referenced vertical or Z-axis position.
 2. Thesupport member of claim 1, wherein the support member further comprisesa base to which the at least part of the body is movably coupled in thevertical orient, and a biasing element which acts to bias the at leastpart of the body from the base, such as to allow for movement of the atleast part of the body relative to the base from a first, rest positionon application of a bias to the body and provide for the body to bereturned to the first, rest position on release of the bias as appliedagainst the biasing element.
 3. The support member of claim 2, whereinthe base of the support member is attached to a support platform.
 4. Thesupport member of claim 1, wherein the body of the support membercomprises a lower body part and an upper body part which includes thesupport surface and is movably coupled to the lower body part, such thatthe upper body part is displaceable relative to the lower body part. 5.The support member of claim 4, wherein the upper body part has a headwhich includes the support surface for supporting a workpiece.
 6. Thesupport member of claim 5, wherein the head is replaceable.
 7. Thesupport member of claim 4, wherein the upper body part is replaceable.8. The support member of claim 4, wherein the resilient coupling couplesthe upper body part to the lower body part.
 9. The support member ofclaim 4, wherein the resilient coupling comprises an elastomeric orrubber coupling which is deflectable.
 10. The support member of claim 9,wherein the resilient coupling is formed of a low durometer material ora foam material, optionally in the form of a disk or sleeve.
 11. Thesupport member of claim 4, wherein the resilient coupling comprises oneor more spring elements.
 12. The support member of claim 4, wherein theresilient coupling comprises one or more helicoidal or leaf springs. 13.The support member of claim 4, wherein the resilient coupling comprisesone or more resilient elements.
 14. The support member of claim 13,wherein the resilient coupling comprises a single resilient element. 15.The support member of claim 14, wherein the resilient coupling comprisesa plurality of resilient elements.
 16. The support member of claim 15,wherein the resilient elements comprise elastomeric or rubber elements.17. A workpiece support assembly for supporting a plurality ofsingulated workpieces, wherein the support assembly comprises aplurality of support members, which each support a workpiece, whereineach support member comprises a support and a body which includes asupport surface which provides stable support for the workpiece thereonand a resilient coupling which resiliently couples at least part of thebody relative to the support, such that the at least part of the body isdisplaceable relative to the support in at least a horizontal orientfrom a first, unbiased position to a second, biased reference position,and, when released, the at least part of the body returns to the first,unbiased position, wherein the body of the support member includes astem which extends therethrough from the at least part of the body, andwherein the stem extends to the support surface, whereby a vacuum orreduced pressure source is applied to the support surface, such as tofix a supported workpiece at a defined position thereon, wherein the atleast part of the body is displaceable in the vertical orient, such asto allow adjustment of the vertical or Z-axis position of the supportmember, and wherein the at least part of the body is lockable at areferenced vertical or Z-axis position.